Layered Rocks and Clusters of Trees on Silk, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 206×67
Monk painter Ju Ran mastered the art of making mountains look like they were breathing in this towering vertical scroll. Rugged peaks rise out of a misty void, their surfaces textured with soft 'hemp-fiber' strokes that give the rocks a fuzzy, organic feel rather than hard edges. Ju Ran was the top disciple of Dong Yuan, and together they created the blueprint for the 'Southern School' of landscape painting, focusing on the lush, humid atmosphere of Jiangnan. The bold calligraphy at the top declares this a 'divine piece,' and it's easy to see why Emperor Qianlong added his own poetic inscriptions at the bottom—he simply couldn't resist a masterpiece.
- Technique
- Ink wash
- Material
- Silk
- Dimensions
- 206 x 67 cm
Location: National Palace Museum, Taipei
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